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Trade Unions express support for Constitutional reform and vow massive participation in referendum
Tunis, 6 March 2001 (TunisiaOnline)
The secretary general of Tunisian General Workers’ Union (UGTT), Mr. Abdessalem Jerad, expressed today the support of the country's trade unions for the holding of a popular referendum over a constitutional reform amendment.
« I have conveyed to President Ben Ali the determination of trade unionists and workers to participate massively in the
referendum and to voting in favor of the constitutional amendment bill which aims to further anchor the foundations of
the republican system, » said Mr. Jerad at the end of a meeting with President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
The constitutional amendment bill is currently examined on committee-level by the Tunisian Chamber of Deputies (Parliament). Its provisions aim at bolstering civil liberties and public freedoms, strengthening oversight over the constitutionality of laws and increasing the transparency of the electoral process. They will also introduce into the constitution additional guarantees regarding the temporary custody of defendants. The reform will also consecrate
concepts as solidarity, mutual help and tolerance as part of the values enshrined in the Constitution.
One of the results of the amendment, if adopted, will be the setting up of a second legislative body, to be called « the chamber of advisers ». This new body will comprise about 120 members, elected for a six year-term. It will have one third less members than the 182-member chamber of deputies that will continue to play the central role in the legislative process.
The amendment will also do away with presidential term limitations but will keep the maximum age ceiling of 70 years for candidacy to the highest executive office.